Eligibility

Client Eligibility

Interested in an APAW Dog?

APAW is a very small program run out of our Founder/Executive Director’s home. Our program is designed to work with local clients who need a Poodle specifically, and are seeking a highly-trained Assistance Dog to improve their independence. Our clients understand that they are taking over not only as handler of their Assistance Dog, but as trainer as well; Assistance Dogs don’t stop learning once they are placed – their new partner becomes responsible for practicing all skills as well as continuing to teach new skills to keep their dog in tip-top shape.

You may qualify for an APAW Dog if you:

are legally disabled (under the ADA),

live near Central Massachusetts,

are committed to attending on-going group training sessions at APAW,

require a Poodle due to allergies or strong personal preference,

sufficiently demonstrate the ability to care for and handle a dog on your own (exceptions for children/facilitated teams)

need a role/tasks within APAW’s offerings, and

understand that getting an Assistance Dog is not about “Getting the dog you want” – it is about “Getting the dog you need.”

Roles which APAW currently provides:

Service Dogs for physical limitations

Psychiatric Service Dogs for mental health

Autism Service Dogs for children on the spectrum

Social/Therapy Dogs for work in a therapeutic capacity

Working Candidates to raise and train for your specific needs (young dogs are sometimes placed outside of our area)

As our organization grows, we plan to broaden our geographic range as well as increase the number of roles we train for.

If any of the above statements are not true for you, you probably do not qualify for an APAW Dog at this time. We are happy to refer you to other potential programs/resources.